Billing Address for the Card: ________________________________________________________________

**Golfers, to assure you will have a spot on the roster, the registration form should be sent prior to March 1, 2018. If openings are still available, late registration will be accepted at the golf course.

The
holiday season is here and racing is done for just a short little
break. We’ve seen Thanksgiving and given thanks for the things we
are blessed with. Each one of our “thanks”

is different, as are
the levels of gratitude we have. When things are status quo we are

thankful, but maybe not to the extent someone who has lost something
or someone dear to them. It becomes necessary to hold dear the
things that carry us through at those times. We know that DRAW has
become those injured racers’ support when they have needed it most.

Then
comes the big Christmas celebrations from the shopping to the cooking
to the get-togethers and family times…however we each chose to
celebrate. I find the holidays

sometimes to be bittersweet. It’s
easy to get caught up in all the excitement, the anticipation, the
joy of the season. But it also stirs up memories of days gone by, of
people no longer with

us, changes in our lives and rituals we have
turned to in the past. Changes are inevitable.

In
reflecting on the 2017 season, we have seen some losses in the racing
community this

year. Likewise, we have cheered on winners, shared
laughs and long fun hours together. We have sat through memorial
services together, we have listened and consoled our friends, we have
met racers that recovered from their accidents and visit with us to
share their thankfulness. While change may be inevitable, holding on
to some stability in our lives

community is DRAW.
We may not have experienced an accident and a need for DRAW

personally, but we probably all know someone who has. Likewise, we
all have had to turn to

our personal “constants” at some point in
our lives to help us through. We all can relate to

the importance of
support. DRAW is that one hing racers have to count on. And the one
thing DRAW has to count on is the volunteers and supporters to be
there to provide for our racers

in their times of need. So
be thankful, honor your traditions and those you hold dear, all the
while remembering our personal importance to DRAW and to our racing
community and those injured racers who depend on DRAW’s Fast Help
for Fast Friends. Thanks to each one of you

and all of us together
for making DRAW that stability when injured racers need it most.
Have

a beautiful, joyous holiday season and the very best that 2018
has to give, as we continue to give to our racers in need.

2017 DRAW Annual Charity Auction

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Cards & Letters to Injured Racers is so Important

One of the great things about the Indy race is we generally get to see some injured racers from the past. It is always so heartwarming to get to visit with them and hear how they are doing. This year we had three racers stop by, Larry Sisk, Tom Brown and Ryan Gortney. When we work the booth or talked to the injured racers on the phone, we get to hear how important DRAW is important to their recovery. But only a few of us are fortunate enough to experience these "warm and fuzzies." Below is a letter from one of our current injured racers Andrew Blanton along with some pictures he sent with the letter. Please keep this letter in mind and when you get your DRAWing attention newsletter each month to send a few cards and/or letters out.

Dearest DRAW,

Hi! I wanted to say hi and thank you to some of the friends that have kept in touch with me from DRAW. Constance Smith, Judy and Bill Leahey, Ray and Millie Martel have sent some very nice letters and they have made the most recent past a lot better. Please thank each of them for me and try to explain how much good happens from a single handwritten "hello". I have added some pictures of myself, Annika my daughter (sounds like Onikuh) and Kara my girlfriend. Thank you again from care and support. The people at DRAW make my daily life a lot better!!!

Warm Regards

Andrew Blanton

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Top Fuel Harley Helmet auction in memory of

Larry "Drums" Brancaccio

Top Fuel Harley rider Chris Smith donated his helmet, signed by all 16 Top Fuel Harley riders at the 2017 NHRA Bristol Thunder Valley Nationals, for auction in memory of Larry "Drums" Brancaccio. The auction was held on the Top Fuel Harley Associations Facebook page. The winning bidder was Colbert Seagraves from Langcourt Performance who was a good friend of Drums. DRAW sends out a HUGE thank you to Chris Smith, all the Top Fuel Harley Riders and Colbert for their generous donation to DRAW!

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Drag Racing Association of Women Clarification

Due to a recent situation, the board members of the DRAW feel the need to clarify an

item from the organizations Bylaws.

Racers receiving aid from the Drag Racing Association of Women can not return to

driving or riding a race vehicle and continue to receive aid from DRAW.

The thought being is that racer aid is there if you are not able to work or participate in normal life activities and have doctors orders that say so. If you are capable of

operating any racing vehicle, then you should be capable of working or participating

in normal life activities and will no longer receive aid from the Drag Racing

Association of Women.

______________________________________________________

Take just a little time to be prepared

I recently was slightly involved in something that made me want to write a little story

about being prepared for the worst. In this day and age, anyone that is 18 years or

older should at least have a Power of Attorney in place and if you have a spouse, dependents or loved ones that depend on you make a Will. If you were to pass away tomorrow is everything in place to take care of the people you want to get taken care

of? If you do not at least have a POA then you risk having everything tied up in court, sometimes for years, while the State tries to determine who should get your assets.

Sit down with a lawyer and get a POA made up and put on file so if something does

happen, your family and loved ones are not stuck trying to obtain what is supposed

I was fortunate enough to meet Kelley (Ike) Isenhower at the Raceview Family Campground during this years U.S. Nationals. He was playing on a stage in the campground surrounded by a crowd of screaming fans. I heard him say something about "all proceeds go to DRAW" well needless to say that caught my attention so I talked to him after the show. Here is a guy that you dont hear about, playing his heart out on stage and giving the proceeds to the Drag Racing Association of Women. I asked him to tell me his story and how he started getting involved with DRAW.

He started attending the U.S. Nationals in 1991 with his brother and father. He was hooked after he saw

the first Top Fuel Dragster run down the track. This event quickly became a tradition every Labor Day for him and his family. He remembers that his mom and dad would get to every final race early and stop by

the DRAW booth to donate a little cash and pick up a ladder sheet so they could keep track of their favorite drivers throughout the day. Some 25 years later they still do the same thing.

Ike started donating small amounts to DRAW every year and decided in 2013 to try something different.

He has been a touring musician for over 20 years, playing in excess of 240 shows per year. He has been putting on a concert at the Raceview Family Campgrounds every year starting in 1996. The concerts

started small, sitting around campfires with close friends. Over the years, more people would show up to listen and eventually he started using a stage and a large PA system. He brought a couple of bands out to play and the crowds just kept getting bigger.

In 2013 at the 59th US Nationals he decided to try and raise some money and his father mentioned that

they should do something for DRAW. He was able to get an acoustic guitar donated by IRC Music in Indianapolis and with the help from some great friends was able to get the guitar autographed by about 20 professional drag racers. That evening he played his show to a crowd of about 400+ people and started selling raffle tickets for the guitar. Towards the end of the night they drew the winning number and gave it away but only after raising about $1200 from the raffle. A few other donations took the total to almost

$1400! Ike and his father delivered the money to the DRAW booth Monday morning before the finals. The look on the eyes of the ladies at the booth was very heartwarming, they were very thankful and so was he.

Ike played this past Labor Day weekend at the 61st US Nationals and it was his 20th year at the campground. He purchased an event flag, got about 13 driver autographs raffled it off that night at the

show. The flag raised $250 and with the help of some friends from Fort Wayne (Team Social) they were a

ble to sell some T-shirts they had made. Between the shirts and the flag Ike was able to present the ladies

at the DRAW booth $500 on Monday morning.

Ike has done a lot of gigs in his career for many different charities including the American Cancer Society, Loop for Life, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Wounded Warriors, Craven for the Cure, Red Mask Foundation, Alzheimers Research, SIDS, College Mentors for Kids and Care-N-Share to name a few. Its always been

a joy for him to provide music for these charitable events. Ike plays music because he loves it, if there are those whos day can be brightened by what he does, then he is going to continue doing it. Ike is going to continue supporting DRAW every year, as he truly loves the sport of drag racing and the mission that the great people at DRAW follow, "Fast Help for Fast Friends". Its his pleasure to be associated with such a grear organization as DRAW and he looks forward to raising more money in the future. Come check out

In 2018, DRAW will mark its 33rd year of providing "Fast Help for Fast Friends." It takes the time and talent of many people

to make our mission a reality. There are many ways you can help make 2018 DRAW's best year ever.

DRAW's lifeblood is dedicated volunteers. You can make a valuable contribution to DRAW by joining one of our committees: Website, Newsletter, Membership, Fundraising, Injured Racer Calling, and others that might arise during the year.

If you are interested in volunteering or joining one of DRAW's committees, please submit an application to Rosalee Noble,